Sorry, Beyoncé — Here's Why 2017 Will Be the Year of Solange Knowles
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As one could imagine, it has to be hard following in the footsteps of Beyoncé. Sister Solange addressed it in a 2009 song she recorded titled "F*ck the Industry." On it, she sings, "I'll never be picture-perfect Beyoncé." Well, luckily for Solange, she doesn't have to be. In 2016, Solange became a star in her own right. After years of making eclectic music for her fans, she gained attention from mainstream audiences, who showed up to support her third studio release, A Seat at the Table, which sparked a viral hashtag for its social commentary on black identity in America. While 2016 was a great year for Solo, it appears 2017 is shaping up to be an even bigger year for the Houston, TX, native. Keep reading to see why Solange Knowles will dominate in the year ahead.
She Has Come Into Her Own
Solange's evolution as an artist has been interesting to watch. At just 15 years old, she released her debut R&B album, Solo Star, which failed to impress the critics. Fast-forward 14 years later and Solange has experimented with her musical sound, tapping into different genres like electronica, indie-pop, and neo soul. Her colorful sound has separated her from her sister and solidified her place in a league of her own.
She's Been Nominated For a Grammy
Solange could very well win her first Grammy at the 2017 Grammy award ceremony, where she's nominated for best R&B performance for her single "Cranes in the Sky." The song has been well received by both critics and fans across social media and also earned a spot at No. 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
She's Nominated For 5 Image Awards
Beyoncé and Solange are both up for NAACP Image Awards, with big sis Bey earning seven nominations and little sis Solange not far behind with five. The Knowles sisters will be competing against each other in four out of five categories, which could make for a fun sibling rivalry. If Solange won, we'd like to think that Bey would be very proud of how far she's come!
She Has a Critically Accalimed No. 1 Album
Solange's third studio album, A Seat at the Table, earned rave reviews from critics, earning a Metacrtic score of 89 out of 100, which is regarded as "universal acclaim." It is Solange's first No. 1 album on the Billboard Hot 200 chart, and she and Beyoncé made history by becoming the first sisters to ever have both their albums debut at No. 1 in the same year. Solange is currently putting together a band to help bring the well-received project to the main stage. Not a bad start for a 2017 takeover.